Distance-rod for automobiles.



1H a 2A U Am Lobuz .m l l l I l I 1| G. E. FRANQUIST. DISTANCE ROD FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1913.

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G. E. FRANQUIST. I DISTANOE ROD P OR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1913.

1 ,094,140, Patented Apr. 21, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE E. FRANQUIST, OF NEWv BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.

DISTANCE-ROD FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led May 8, 1913.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914. serial No. 766,268.

invented certain new and useful Improve-V ments in Distance-Rods for Automobiles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to self-propelled vehicles of that particular class in which power is transmitted from a driving shaft to the driven axle, through chains and sprocket-wheels.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction of distance-rod between the power-shaft and axle which will not be affected by abnormal relative movements of the shaft and axle, due to strains encountered mainly through inaccuracies of road surface over which the vehicle travels.

A further object is to provide a distancerod between the power-shaft and axle which will permit of the removal of the axle from the vehicle without the complete removal of the distance-rod.

A further object of the invention is the provision of convenient means for adjusting the tension of the drive-chain, and a still further object is the provision of a housing for the chain and a mounting thereof which will, like the distance-rod, be relieved of strains, due to relative movements of the power-shaft and axle.

With these objects in view, the invention consists: lirst, of a distance-rod connecting the power-shaft and axle together, with a connection between the power-shaft and the distance-rod which permits the latter to twist or rotate freely in a direction transverse to the axis of the shaft, whereby there will be no tendency to communicate such motion to the shaft itself; second, in making the distance-rod in two parts which are readily separable from each other; third, in locating the chain-adjusting devices outside of the chain housing and at a point where they are readily accessible; and, fourth, in mounting` the chain housing upon the distance rod solely so that it will freely partake of such motions as are imparted to the rod.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the distance-rod and its connections, with the upper half of the chain housing removed and portions of the mechanism in section ,l Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the chain housing, the power shaft.

and axle showing the distance rod in side elevation; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-13 of Fig. 1, but on a considerably larger sca e.

Referring to the drawings by letter, 1 indicates the side frame of the chassis of a self-propelled vehicle; 2 indicates the driven axle, and 3 the driving shaft to which power is communicated in any well known way from a suitable motor on the vehicle. The axle 2 is supposed to be connected with the body of the vehicle through the usual -springs (not shown), a seat for one of the springs being shown at 4 which is secured to the axle by means of the bolts 5. The power-shaft 3 is rigidly supported upon one side of the frame of the chassis by means of the bracket 6 and bolts 7 and the bracket S and bolts 9, and on the other side by the same or any other suitable means. From the bracket 6 extends a sleeve around the shaft which terminates at its outer end in a ballcup l0 for ball bearings on which the shaft IuI'lS. which, together with a ring on the inside of the cup, forms the ball-race for the balls 12. Fixed upon the end of the shaft is the hub 13 which carries the sprocket pinion 14. The sleeve upon which the cup 10 is formed, is embraced by a collar 15 from which projects fofrward a. cylindrical bracket 16 through which passes a vertical pin 17, the ends of which project beyond the ends of the bracket and pass through the arms of a yoke 18, which arms embrace the opposite ends of the cylindrical bracket. This yoke has a tail-piece 19 extending forward and having its extremity threaded. The outer ends of the pin 17 and the outer adjacent surfaces ofthe yoke 18 are machined olf to form cylindrical surfaces having a common axis which passes horizontally through the center of the shaft 3 in a fore-andaft direction.

The distance-rod is composed of two sections indicated respectively by 2O and 21. The section 2O is essentially an open rectangular frame comprising two horizontal sides 22 and 23, connected together by a vertical cross-piece 24. The shaft 3 passes through this frame and the frame is in the same plane with the yoke 18 and bracket 16, the outer curved surfaces of the yoke bearing against the inner face of the frame parts 22 The shaft is fitted with a ring 11 4 and 23, these faces being curved throughout their length to correspond with the curvature on the faces of the yoke so that the frame may be adjusted longitudinally and meanwhile slide upon the end surfaces of the yoke. At the same time, it will be seen that by reason of the corresponding cylindrical surfaces between the yoke and the frame, the frame may be twisted or rotated on an axis at right angles to the axis of shaft 3 without imparting any strain to the yoke 18, bracket- 16, or shaft 3. The frame section 20 of the distance rod is provided with two lugs 25, 25, for the reception of bolts 26, which also pass through similar` lugs 27 on the section 21 of the distance-rod for the purpose of rigidly securing the two sections together and forming them'into one single structure. These bolts are prevented from turning when their nuts are screwed on, by a straight edge 2S which rests upon an, outer flat surface on the frame as seen in Fig. 3. The frame section 2O is provided with a tubular extension 20 leading` from the center of the cross-piece 24, and the tailpiece 19 of the yoke 18 extends through and beyond this tubular extension and is adjustable longitudinally with respect thereto by means of a nut 29 in the form of a sleeve externally and internally threaded. The interior surface of the tubular extension is threaded with a pitch opposite that on the tail-piece and the nut is correspondingly threaded to engage both of these threads5 so that when the nut is rotated the tube and tail-piece will move in opposite directions with respect to each other, or, more properly it should be stated, that the tail-piece 19 which is connected to the rigidly mounted shaft 3, will remain stationary while the tubular extension, which is connected to the distancek rod, will be moved longitudinally with respect thereto in a direction correspending to the direction in which the nut is turned. The end of the tubular extension is slotted, as at 30, so that it may be contracted to lock the nut, by means of the split cap 31 which is passed over the end of the tube and contracted by means of a bolt 32. rTo adjust the nut7 it is of course necessary to first remove this cap, after which it is replaced to lock the adjustment and protect the parts from injury.

The section 21 of the distance rod is in the form of a plate with a reinforcing web 33. It is provided with an opening near its rear end through which the driven axle 341 passes. The axle is provided with a sleeve 35 having a cylindrical bracket 3G through which a pin passes into and through ears 37 on the Vrod, thus forming a hingejoint between the rod and axle, permitting the shaft to swing horizontally t-o a slight degree without straining the distance rod.

38 indicates a drum which is supposed to be rigidly attached to one of the vehicle wheels running upon the axle This drum is provided with sprocket-teeth 39 in the same plane with the sprocket-pinion 14, and power is supposed to be communicated from the pinion to the drum by means of a sprocketchain passing over these two sj'nocket-wheels. The bosses 40 and al are merely bearings for studs used in the brake rigging and have no special significance in my invention. Grease cups 4t2 are also shown but have no significance. The inner side of section 20 of the distance rod is closed by a plate 43 to prevent the entrance of dirt and this plate is provided with elongated openings permitting shaft 3 to pass through it and permit of the adjustments which will be hereinafter referred to.

The housing for the chain is indicated by eta and consists of sheet or cast metal made in two parts divided longitudinally along the center, the interior side wall of the housing being cut away to fit the contour of the distance-rod, the edges of this cut-away part fitting in the grooves around the edges of the distance-rod as indicated by the dotted lin-es As a further support for the housing, the distance-rod is provided with a web-like bracket L16 against which the abutting edges of the two halves of the housing rest, grooves L17 being provided in the bracket to receive the edges of the housing. The outer wall of the housing is provided with a large circular opening, permitting it to receive the drum 38 and with a somewhat smaller opening in which is fitted a cup (18 covering the end of the shaft 3. The two parts of the housing are bolted together at several points indicated by 19, and in this manner it will be seen that the housing is sustained entirely by and upon the distancerod, so that any motions which are imparted to the rod are freely partaken of by the housing and no strain is brought upon the latter. The provision of the sleeve 15 on shaft 3 and the sleeve 35 on axle 34, permits either the sleeve or the axle to move vertically without straining the distance rod, and hinge-joints 3G and 37 between the axle and the distance rod as well as the similar joint between the shaft 3 and the distance rod, permit the axle and shaft to assume a slightly non-parallel relation without straining` the distance-rod. llVhenever one or both wheels on the axle 31 pass over irregularities in the road, the axle has a Vertical movement which tends to twist the distance rod, and this twisting is compensated for by the opposite end of the rod rotating upon the curved ends of the yoke 18,

so that no strain is placed upon the rodf hen it is necessary to remove the axle 34 from the vehicle, this may be done without dis-assembling the forward end of the distance-rod and its associated parts, by removing the bolts 26 which then permit the section 21 of the distance-rod to be moved away with the aXle, the chainhousing of course having first been entirely removed. This is an important feature of my invention since to remove the entire distance rod would require considerable time and difficulty. In order to adjust the tension of the chain which passes `over sprocket-wheels 14: and 39, the axle is caused to approach or recede from the shaft 3, and this is done by applying a wrench to the nut 29 and Giving it the required number of turns to eeot the adjustment. In thus turning the nut, the whole distance-rod, together with the rear aXle, is drawn forward or pushed rearward, while the frame 22, 23, meanwhile slides longitudinally upon the curved faces of the yoke 18. Y

I-Iaving described my invention, I claim 1. In a vehicle, the combination of two shafts, a distance rod connecting them together, one end of the rod having an opening through which one of the shafts passes, longitudinal arc shaped bearing surfaces on the walls of said openings and a bracket attached to said shaft and having corresponding arc-shaped bearings in engagement with those on the rod and means for moving the rod to cause the bracket to travel lengthwise thereof.

2. In a vehicle, the combination of a distance-rod,`aV shaft, a bracket, longitudinal arc-shaped guides on the rod engaged by said bracket and means for sliding the bracket along saidV guides.

3. In a vehicle, the combination of a distance-rod, a shaft, a bracket, longitudinal arc-shaped guides on the rod engaged by said bracket and a threaded member cooperating with the rod and thebracket whereby the bracket may be caused to slide along said guides.

4f. In a vehicle, the combination of a distance-rod, an aXle and a shaft connected thereby, a threaded member carried by the rod, a threaded member carried by the shaft and a rotary threaded member engaging with the threads of the other two members whereby the relative positions of the rod and shaft may be adjusted by manipulating said rotary member.

5. In a vehicle, the combination of a distance rod and a shaft arranged at an angle to each other, said rod having a tubular portion internally threaded and the shaft carrying a tail piece externally threaded and passing through said tubular portion, and an internally and externally Vthreaded nut engaging the threads on both the tubular portion and the tail piece.

6. In a vehicle, the combination of a distance-rod and a chain housing, the latter having an opening in its side occupied by the former and the housing being solely supported by the rod.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVE E. FRANQUIST.

Witnesses:

VVALDO M. CHAPIN, IDA M. PATTERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

